Stuffing-box.



No. 654,8al. y Patented July 3|, uson. H. S. DURAND.

STUFFING BOX.

(Applicatknx4 led Aug'. 1'7, 1899.) (No Model.)

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HENRY s. DURAND,` or RocHEsTER, NEW YORK.

STUFFlNG-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 654,881, dated July 31, 1900.

i Application led August 17, 1899. Serial No. 727,563. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, HENRY S. DURAND,a citi zen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Stuffing-Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being made to4 the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of stuffing-boxes and in the character of the packing or filling used therein; and the invention consists of the stuffingbox which is hereindescribed and particularly defined in the claims.

On the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure l is a fragment of a longitudinal and vertical section of a boat to which the invention is applied; Fig. 2, anlongitudinal section, on a larger scale, of the stuffing-box; `and Fig. 3, a cross-section thereof in Vthe plane x,

,Fig 2.

Similar reference-numerals designate like parts in the different views.

The invention is shown and described in connection with the shaft of a screw-propeller.

`of a small boat. v This boat is propelled by foot-power acting on a motor which imparts motion to the shaft,the motor being that patented in Letters Patent of the United States No. 629,343. Especially in boats of which' this is a type a common stuffing-box even under the best conditions subjects the shaft' to friction which is excessive with respect to the power, and it often binds the shaft hard in consequence of the displacement of the stuffing-box by the warping of the dead-wood, and only with much trouble can be restored to its proper relation to the shaft. For these reasons the use of a common stuffing-box in such boats is unsatisfactory. f 1 J i The mainobject ofthis :invention is to pro-l vide such boats with an appropriate stuflingbox capable of allowing the shaft to turn therein with but comparatively little friction ,h and comprising means for relieving the shaft from any unnatural pressure imposed .upon itby a slight displacement of the stuffingbox; bu-t stung-boxes embodying the ini. veution may be used with advantage also in larger vesselscomprising propellers driven y check-nut 2G. the screw-cap loosely surrounds the shaft.

` by engines aswell as in Vconnection with other shafts besides propeller-shafts.V

` l"The propeller-shaft 1, carrying the screwparts 2 and 2', and on it are ears 20 by which it is fastened to the dead-wood, the part 2 of the body being in ahole in the dead-wood.-

The interior diameter of the part2 is greater than that of the part 2 and both are considerably greater than the diameter of the shaft, and at the rear end of the part .2 is an internal shoulder 21, next to which is a ring 2l', which loosely surrounds' the shaft, but fits tightly in the part 2. At the'front end of this part is a hollow screw-plug 22, 'which loosely surrounds this shaft and `forms a' shoulder 22 within the part 2; Next to this shoulder is a collar 23, of Babbitt metal or similar niaterial, closely fitting the shaft, but not being tight on the shaft, and being smaller in diameter than the interior of the part 2. This loose-fitting shaft-collaris held against the inner end of the plug 22 or the shoulder 22' by a coil-spring 24, the rear coil of the spring resting against the ring 2l. The coil-spring loosely surrounds the shaft and the wire of the'spring is bent near each end, and the ends of the wire extend into holes in the ring and collar, so that the spring tends to keep the collar from turning with the shaft, the ring 21 being,`as above stated, tight in the part 2. The main ofce of the ring 21 is to afford a broad surface next to the .rear end of the spring, but the spring might rest against the shoulder 21or a similarbut somewhat broader shoulder,f'instead of against the ring 21.

On the `rear end of. the part 2 is a screwcap 25;.andnextto this on the part 2 is a The perforated-head 25 of Withinthe screwcap is ashoulder 27, formed in thel part 2, although it` might be the rear end of that part, and between this shoulder and the head of the cap are collars 28, of Babbitt metal or similar material, and rings 28', 'of felt, each of the felt rings being between two of the collars". These collars and rings IOO AIQ

:a l g '654,881

t the shaft closely, but are not tight thereon and their diameter is less than that of the recess in which they are confined. They are preferably clamped together tightlyvenough between the `head of the screw-cap and the shoulder. 27 to so compress the felt rings as to render their inner edges firm and secure their continuous` contact with the shaft.

In place of the collar 23 above mentioned Y there might be a group of collars and felt rings such as the collars and rings 28 and 2S.

The interior of the bodyof the stuffing-box is connected with a reservoir 3 byna pipe 30, the reservoir being in the boat and the pipe extending from the reservoir through the dead-wood to the outer part 2 of the stuffingbox. ,This reservoir is essentially a cylinder l suchthat the collar 23 and group of collars and felt rings 28 and 28' prevent it from work- -ingoutof the ends of the stuffing-box, ex-

cept possibly to a very slight extent, although it may be slowly forced out around the shaft by depressing the piston 3. By occasionally forcing fresh filling into the body until a small i' quantity issues fromy its ends the stuffing-box is kept properly supplied and deterioration of thefilling is prevented; but instead of the reservoir shown a collapsible tube or some other means for holding the grease and'forcing it into the stuffing-box might be adopted. The friction to which the shaft is normally subjected by this stuffing-box, it being merely that due to the light pressure exerted on the shaft by the felt rings and the semiiiuid filling, consumes but a very small percentage of the power, and if the dead-wood warps and displaces the stuffing-box slightly either the stuifing-box does not bind the shaft or if it does the trouble thus caused may be easily and quickly remedied. The displacement of the stuffingbox changes but does not destroy the con? tact-between the shoulder 22 and the collar 23, the shoulder sliding a little on the collar and the collar tipping a little on the shaft by turning'on an axis transverse to that of the shaft, the displaceable viscous filling not offering any appreciable resistance to thisaction, and if Athe collars and rings 28 and 28 are not tightly clamped between the head of the screw-cap and the shoulder 27 then the displacement ofthe stuffing-box eects'a similar change in the contact of the head 25 with the collar next to it, the head slidingr on the collar and the collars and rings of the group sliding on each other and tipping on the shaft, but remaining with their faces in close con,- tact with one another. If the collars and rings 28 and 28, are clamped between the head of the screw-cap and the shoulder, thentthe displacement of "the stuffing-.boxis apt to make the collars bind the shaft; but by loosening the screw-cap vthey will beallowed. to assume natural positions with respect Vto the body of the stuing-box and the shaft, whereupon theyv will cease to bind the shaft and then may be again clamped in the body. Clamping the collars in the body, as described, helps to render the shaft steady by providing it with a guide or supplemental bearing close to the propeller.

i. The collars and rings 28 and 28' are preferred to a single'collar, which might be sub- Istituted for them, because the felt rings help materially to render the joint tight, while they exert but little pressure on the shaft'. This group of collars and rings might be held in contact with the head of the cap 25 by a' spring similar to the spring 24, and the `collar 23 might be confined between a shoulder within the body, near the hollow screw-plug and the inner end of the plug, without the aid of a spring. 1 i

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A stufng box comprising: a hollow body; shaftcollars making `a continuous changeable contact with surfaces at both ends of the body, each of the collars being movable onthe shaft on an axis transverse to that of the shaft; and a displaceable filling conlfined in the body between the collars; substantially as described.

2. A stufling box comprising: a hollow body; shaftcollars making a continuous changeable contact with surfaces at both ends vof the body, each of the collars being movmovable on the shaft on an axis transversev to that of the shaft, and two of said collars making a continuous changeable Vcontact with said internal'annular surfaces'at the ends of the body; substantially as described.

4. Astuffing-box comprising: a hollowbody having internal annular surfaces at right angles to its axisg'a group of two or more shaft- ICO iro

IIC

collars interposed between said surfaces, each of said collars being movable Aon'the shaft on an axis transverse to that of the shaft; Aand means for clamping the group of collars between said surfaces; substantially as described.

y 5. Astuffng-box comprising: ahollowbody` having a single internal annular surface at one end and a pair of internal annular 'surfaces near the other end; a shaft-collar making contact with said single annular surface, and a group of shaft-collars interposed within said pair of annular'surfaces, each of said collars being movable on the shaft on an aXis transverse to that of the shaft; and means Vfor clamping the group of collars within said pair of surfaces; substantially as described.

6. Astufting-boxcomprising: ahollowbody including the screw-plug 22 and screw-cap 25 and the internal annular shoulder 27; a shaftcollar 23 smallar in diameter than the interior of the body adjacent to the screw-plug 22, said collar making contact with said screwplug; and a group of shaft-collars and feltV rings 28 and 28.', smaller in diameter than the interior of the body adjacent tothe head of the screw-cap 25, said group of collars and rings being interposed between the head 25 Vof the screw-cap and the shoulder 27; substantially as described.

7. Astufling-boxcomprising: ahollow body including the screw-plug 22 and screw-cap 25A and internal annular shoulders 2l and 27; a shaft-collar 23 smaller in diameter than the interior of the body adjacent to the screwplug 22, said collar making contact with said screw-plug; a spring 24 between said collar and the shoulder 21; and a group of shaftcollars and felt rings 28 and 28', smaller in diameter than the interior of the body adjacent to the head of the screw-cap- 25, said group of collars and rings being interposed between the head 25 of the screw-cap and the shoulder 27; substantially as described.

8. A stuffing-box comprising: a hollow body, containing surfaces that loosely surround the shaft; and a filling consisting of a viscous iiuid interposed between said sur' faces and extending around the shaft in contact with the shaft, its Viscosity being great enough to prevent its escape from between said surfaces; substantially as described.

9. A stuffing-box comprising: a hollow body; loose-fitting shaft-collars at the ends of the body; and a filling, consisting of a viscous iuid, confined in the body between the collars; substantially as described.

10. A stuffing-box comprising: a hollow body; looseftting shaft-collars makingacontinuous changeable contact with surfaces at faces; and a filling, consisting of a viscous Y Huid, confined in the body between the collars; substantially as described.

13. A stuffing-box comprising: a hollow body; shaftcollars making ay continuous changeable contact with surfaces at the ends of the body, each of the collars being movable on the shaft on an axis transverse to that of the shaft; and a filling, consisting of aviscous fluid, confined in the body between the collars; substantially as described.

14:. A stuiiing-box comprising: a hollow body including the screw-plug 22 and screwcap 25 and the internal annular shoulder 27; a shaft-collar 23 smaller in diameter than the interior of the body adjacent to the screwplug 22, said collar making contact with said screw-plug; means for keeping said collar in contact with said plug; a group of shaft-co1- lars and felt rings 28` and 28', smaller in'diameter than the interior of the body adjacent to the head of the screw-cap 25, said group of collars and rings being interposed between ,the head 25 of the screw-cap and the shoulder 27; and a filling, consisting of a Viscous fluid, confined in the body between the collar 23 and the group of collars and rings 28 

